The Demise of Comet: who's to blame?

Another well known name has bitten the dust and it doesn't look like being saved. Most likely a few independents may spring up in the space vacated and take on any stock left at the stores, but many of the vast spaces will close down and any leftover stock will be gobbled up by someone like Dixons. Just to establish my credentials for this, I work for a company that sells IT solutions to retailers. Researching industry trends is a big part of my job, and this closure doesn't surprise me one bit.

One thing that must be established is that the internet is not to blame; it's not the internet's fault - the internet is blameless! Have I made myself clear? I hope so - anyone who fails to understand that the internet is blameless in this please stop reading and get back to your crayons.

Why, oh why do people always blame the rise of the evil e-Commerce site when a large retailer goes bust? Well, it's easy and most people won't understand why it's not true. Plus, senior management want another job, and saying, "we didn't adequately plan for the future," isn't going to attract future employers. The problem retailers are facing is an increasingly technology-savvy consumer who often want more options than their technology offers.

Have you ever looked for something online to make sure it is in stock before you leave the house? Or been to look round a store at some products then ordered online? A few of you may have used a smart phone app to check prices whilst you are in the store to see if it is cheaper somewhere else. These situations are just a drop in the ocean of the ways consumers now shop. If you fall behind, you fail. Look at John Lewis, they are the example of how to do it right and they are thriving.

Comet simply fell behind and slowly declined to this point thanks to a management who failed to see the way forward and were burdened with more sites than they needed. One of the developments in the changing face of retail is the need for fewer stores for national coverage. What worries me more is that plenty of people I speak to are dismissive of the need to invest in technology. Even independents now need good quality tech or they will be squeezed out by competitors who know how to use systems to give themselves the edge.

"Adapt or die" - in business this has always been the case. In retail, it would be great not to hear the usual whining about the "evil" internet next time something goes wrong.

Robert

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